seasonsgreetings | Event #7: Knocking on the 4th Wall (Inside the Metaverse)

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!4th wall

Event #7: Knocking on the 4th Wall (Inside the Metaverse)

Knocking on the 4th Wall
LOGS | NETWORK | OOC | MEMES | NAVIGATION

Prelude (Pre 4th Wall)

On March 14th, everyone received a message. The Research Center is ready to try another test to find ways to beat the Darkness. This time the test is not done with the robots that were previously used, but instead everyone who volunteers will be participating in a virtual reality simulator. They're asked to come over to the Center on March 15th.

The researchers will explain that the purpose of this simulation is to see how several fully powered power holders fair against the Darkness. They have gathered enough data on it and the dark energy in general to determine the effects it will have on nature, monsters and wildlife if the barrier is taken off. This is the only safe way to actually test their theories.

After all the necessary explanations, everyone is asked to log in to the metaverse. Anyone logging in may notice that there are a lot of glitches as they enter.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the city, anyone looking at any kind of a screen (their own device, television, a digital advertisement, etc.) will have their mind sucked into the metaverse, due to the virus residing in the program. Their bodies will be left in a sleep-like state wherever they may be.

Wrong Turn at Albuquerque

The Research Center staff intended for all otherworlders to start near the Research Center so they could get used to the metaverse in peace. There are no natives in the simulator, so testing out powers around the city would have been safe as well. However, because of the glitch, people can appear anywhere, either in the city or anywhere on the segments (save from the one closed off location).

Sometimes the scenery and items in the world glitch a little bit, reminding anyone that this is the metaverse. Except the glitches weren't meant to happen. Luckily they're all mostly aesthetical, but some items may work differently than they should. You have a spoon? It actually works like a fork.

Luckily, this doesn't mean they will be without any items. They can open a menu with the device on their wrist that lets them get anything at all from Riki's Rewards during the simulator without any cost. They can think of this as special opportunity to test out all kinds of items before buying them, as they work exactly the same as they would in normal space.

For some reason, the Shady Shop also appears in the menu. That was not anyone's intention as the items are, well, shady.

Other than the two shops there are basic potion and magical item menus that people can use where needed. Even vehicles, such as airships can be summoned through the menus for easier traveling in the segments.

Some might find the glitches concerning and wish to return and tell the researches about them. The problem with that is is that clicking "Log Off" won't do anything at all, even if it's supposed to boot someone out of the metaverse. But that's not the end of the strange things going on.

You're in the Metaverse Now

Along with the otherworlders that were participating in the test, others start to join in as well due to unforeseen circumstances. Luckily, they have the same "settings" as everyone else, so they're not completely without aid wherever they end up in. They also have all of their powers unlocked for the duration of their stay in the metaverse (including all animal transformations).

As part of the strange glitch going on everyone also has access to any powers from previous worlds, if they have experienced other places before. It would seem the powers can also be shared through the item inventory, should anyone want to temporary use another world's abilities. This is possible with even a person's native powers.

And as if that wasn't enough, people who weren't on Ellipsa start appearing as well. Anyone who doesn't currently have a body on Ellipsa has a mark somewhere on their body, signaling that they're just data. This mark is somehow related to the characters that has it and emits a faint light.

All of the people who are just visiting will also be able to enjoy the metaverse the same way as anyone else. They have been sorted into a Seasons and have access to full powers - and the same item inventory. All that's different from the others is that they have no physical body to return to in this world.

Communication is the key

During the metaverse adventures, people are able to communicate through their devices, but the messages will not go out to the "normal" network. So the messages are only between those in the metaverse, but at least the network works the same way as it would in the "normal world".

Happy communicating.

It's Getting Dark, Too Dark to See

The goal of the metaverse is to have a safe environment to test powers against the Darkness. All of the barriers have been taken out, except for the one surrounding the city of Nightwake. The city acts as a safe haven to anyone who needs a break or doesn't want to fight.

Everyone is encouraged to go to where the barriers used to be and use their full, unlocked powers against everything and anything the darkness throws at them to see how well they can fight against it.

Thanks to all powers being unlocked, destroying enemies powered up by the Darkness is a lot easier, but pushing back the approaching darkness still needs something more than just raw power. Though with enough power holders of different seasons working together and ~~crossing the different seasonal element streams~~ fusing together different elements from each season in a single attack, it's possible to halt the advance, much like a barrier would, for 24 hours.

Due to the barriers being off, all creatures are stronger due to the Darkness's influence. Even creatures that normally have no danger level can now at least do Dark damage. Some Slime especially may seek vengeance.

Unfortunately, due to the weird glitch in the system, everyone inside the metaverse is able to feel pain when they originally weren't supposed to, to make the experience safe. It feels very real, and there's a chance any non-lethal wounds will appear on the person's real body.

Effects of "The Darkness"

The Darkness is slowly expanding from all sides. Very slowly, at a snail's pace. Everything it touches turns into black sand, before transforming into something different. Some may even recognize the things that rise from the sand, as they're monsters, fauna or people from their own world, made into more twisted forms. They may even be creatures from a popular media from back home... or at least, someone's home (players').

If a Power Holder walks into the Darkness, they won't immediately turn into anything. Instead the transformation is slow and painful. Leaving the area will stop the transformation, but any damage already done remains. If the person changes completely, they might lose their sense of self completely and attack anything in their sights.

What they turn into depends on the individual (player's choice) and the only way to reverse the changes is to die. Luckily that isn't permanent even in the metaverse. The person just gets booted out, but can re-enter anytime they want to (or in this case; is forced to). This was told to anyone before entering the program, so they could go all out and test limits as much as they want.

Wait... Did I Save?

A screen appears either when someone dies or gets forcefully booted out of the metaverse. It has two options: Remember or Forget.

Clicking "Remember" will automatically save everything that happened into a person's memory and proceed to boot them out. Clicking "Forget" will lead the person to a series of "Are you Sure" pop up windows. As the very last resort, the window suggests an option to only partially forget events that transpired in the metaverse. Choosing to still forget everything will make the person wake up from a long, dreamless sleep. The memories erased cannot be found later on, as they have been completely erased from their metaverse-selves. Even someone telling them what happened won't sound familiar.

This option is also available for any visitors during the time they're visiting. Whenever they die they get booted out and can be immediately returned to the metaverse (by the power of players) with or without their memories, depending on what they chose.

Of course, anyone can then tell the person about the very crazy stunts they made the last time they were in the metaverse. They could be complete lies, but they wouldn't have any solid proof, other than "I would never do that".

Time to Say Goodbye

Finally, on March 31st, a message comes from the outside. It's telling everyone stuck in the metaverse that they can finally leave out of their own will and stay out this time. People can then choose to leave immediately be pressing by pressing the "Log Off" button on their screen or take a moment to say goodbye to the temporary visitors of the metaverse.

The screen asking if someone wants to "Remember" or "Forget" appears, once again. This time the Forget option is even more insistent on asking if the person is sure about their choice, especially since the memories that are erased can't be taken back later.

Once everyone who exists on Ellipsa has returned to their bodies, the metaverse will be shut down. All visitors have been booted out and returned to where they came.

OOC TIPS

• Ask 4th Wall related questions here. Read the 4th wall FAQ before asking them.

• You don't need to comment on the plotting post to participate & anyone can participate in the 4th wall (there's no separate invitation needed). However, if you wish to app in later, you need an invite if you're not a friend of the mods.

• This post is open to tag and top-level by everyone! Those arriving for the 4th wall can write 4TH WALL or VISITOR on their post and/or link their top level here!

• Check the Opt-in top-level if you're considering bringing in a character that already exists in the game.

• Smut is not allowed on the event post, so if your thread is heading that way, please move it to a separate entry (like to your musebox or characters' journal).

• Remember to content and spoiler warn as necessary!

• Reminder to players in the game that this month is Activity Check-in month and check-in ends on March 31th, at 23:59 PST.

code bases by tricklet

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

[ PICKS HIM UP AND TWIRLS HIM ]

Now you're never getting rid of us!

It's a bit strange, nobody recognizing the name. Back in Earthland, Fairy Tail is pretty famous. Or infamous, depending on who you ask.

Slowly, she forces air into her lungs. Breathe in. Breathe out. Bertholdt’s here, and there’s nothing she can do about it either way, so she’s just going to have to deal with it. At least he isn’t brand new, so she doesn’t have to give him the whole spiel.

“It’s not real. I don’t really understand how the whole thing works, but it was supposed to be some kind of fake world. A simulation, they called it. So that we could practice using our powers —” here she gestures at the wall he’d been rebuilding “— without destroying things in real life.”

She huffs, eyes fixed at a spot on Bertholdt’s cheek, because that’s easier to look at than his eyes. “I didn’t even volunteer in the first place. Just — poof. Showed up a couple days ago.”

It doesn’t sound like Bertholdt knows the details of Ellipsa yet, so she continues, crossing her arms over her chest. “Anyways. I don’t know if Jean told you yet, but this place is based on another world called Ellipsa. There’s magic and stuff, and people show up from different worlds so that they can save this one. Also, there’s really good food.”

That’s it. That’s the explanation.

( Well, sounds like the multiverse is still up to its usual bullshit with that run down. Kate keeps the relief she feels at having been spared from any of that to herself. As far as she's concerned, she did her bit with Avalon and being able to stay and continue the life and career she built there is her reward.

Not having to return home and confront the reality she left there is her reward.

She nods at Caster's question, a ghost of a smile quirking on her lips. )

Mm. Pick Your Poison's doing well.

( Kate's ownership of it is, really, more in name than action. Between Off Limits, Fortress, and the new gym, delegation has become more important than ever, and the staff Caster hired from the locals turned out to be more than competent at their jobs. Update meetings and occasional visits have proven that Caster had a good eye for employees. )

[ Yeah this is definitely not good. Can she bluff? The ‘I’m your long-lost daughter’ thing won’t work again, but maybe she can pretend she’d never tried that in the first place? Doubtful. She’d already clearly recognized him. Even fighting him won’t work, since he’s terrifyingly fast and has tricks she’s never even heard of before up his sleeves. ]

Maybe.

[ The ball’s in his court, now. If she’s lucky, he won’t remember her. If she’s unlucky…well. She wonders if he’ll fare as well against her when she’s transformed. ]

Wah-!

[HE IS LIFTED AND TWIRLED]

This is bullying??

[ Another fire user? Mustang narrows his eyes. Not a big deal if it’s a seasonal ability, but if it isn’t…well. It’s certainly worth investigating. But not right now, he decides — that would be far too overt for his tastes. ]

What is it that you can usually do?

Sometimes, though, it feels like they're both slipping. Levi stares at him, and he's tense like a tuned string on an instrument. Not again, he tells himself, yells, runs after the phantom memory. Wait. This time, he can do it right.

His hand gradually tightens around Erwin's until he's wrapped his fingers around the man's palm, not caring of the dirt digging under his nails as he does so.

"You've paid your dues, Erwin," he cuts him off mercilessly. "You can do whatever the fuck you want."

There's enough otherworlders here to pick up the slack even if the wounded and the children don't fight this time.

"If you wanna help, great. You can do that without getting yourself killed, from a safe distance. If you don't, it's the same thing. Stay away and stay alive. If anyone gives you shit for it-- just--"

Something cracks a little in his voice, and his gaze finally slips away, now focusing instead on that white cosmos blossom next to their hands.

"Just say that I threatened to break the rest of your limbs if I catch you on the front lines. Because I fucking will, Erwin, I--" He looks at him again, then, and there's so much of everything in his eyes -- pain, determination, fear, worry, anguish -- that he looks like he's about to cry or punch him, maybe both. "I've had enough of watching you die."

[ God-fucking-damnit.

In all fairness, he isn’t upset to see Fullmetal (because he is Fullmetal to Mustang right now, not Elric or even Ed, not while they’re still in potentially hostile territory), because while the boy might give Mustang gray hairs, he’s an incredibly useful ally. Smart and strong, a rare combination, and one he can’t afford to pass over.

On the other hand, he can practically feel the wrinkles forming. Fullmetal with fire. Who on earth thought that was a good idea? Fire takes years to learn, and even Mustang isn’t foolish enough to believe that he controls it. Fire is wild. Fire is dangerous. Fire isn’t something that a teenage boy with the anger management skills of a block of straight chlorine should be able to mess around with.

That’s a lecture for a different day though, even though he’s sure he’ll lose sleep over it, so he forces a bright smile. ]

Most impressive — although I must admit that I didn’t consider you to be a copycat. [ Fire is, after all, his thing. ]

[ A few years? Mustang considers himself lucky he even recognized Alphonse, if that’s the case. ]

I can imagine. And food too, yes? I remember that was one of the things you missed. You must have tried nearly everything there is to eat in the last few years.

[ The idea that maybe he isn’t at full power is. Well. Terrifying. Just to make sure, he touches his fingers together, calling up the array stitched on the back of his gloves. He doesn’t do anything with it, releasing the alchemical energy as soon as it gathers, but just knowing that he can still use it is a relief. ]

Were you not at full power previously?

[ BIG HUGS ON BOTH SIDES, she'd probably have cracked his back a little if it weren't for the shell in the way. ]

It's pretty fucking decent? And it feels fake as hell, but like. It's been months and there's only been one mauling. One.

...though, uhhh. Speaking of. Should I ask?

[ eyeing his arm. or rather lack of arm. ]

Keeping you safe is--...

[Gorgon had been about to finish that thought- that keeping Sakura safe was more important than anything else. That her own desires had no baring on the matter compared to that.

But she could see the change in her.

Yes, her Master really had grown, hadn't she? And that caught her off-guard.]

...Mm. Like this, perhaps we can both fight at our fullest.

I don't think so. I mean, I'm still learning, so there's a lot of things I can't do yet. And with the stuff people can do in this world, I guess the way it works is you develop your skill over time and then you'll be able to do stuff you couldn't before.

[The wyvern meets Medusa's attack with blue fire. Hijikata is confident that her speed will let her evade it - but even if she does get hit, fire won't harm a Servant to the degree it would harm a human. Luckily, this wyvern, albeit coated in dark energy like its brethren, is only about half as large as the pair they fought on that fateful quest, meaning it can't swallow a person whole in one bite - but it could easily bite a head or limb off, he's sure.

After some fast maneuvers, Medusa's nail weapons impact with the wyvern's neck, but its hard scales protect it from damage, and it snaps for her, trying to catch her between its teeth. I wonder how long she'll have to hold out to be able to transform... you can do it, Medusa!]

[Five months is a very long time, if at least less emotionally intense then the Temple.]

Missed...? Wait, have you noticed us being gone? [He pulls back some, concerned.]

[Which is when he Notices.] What happened to your arm?!

Yeah?

[That got him straightening up a little, his interest finally latching onto something a little more solid than "ball" and "shoes".]

Well why don't we go pay 'em a visit. Put the squeeze on 'em. See if they're any fun.

It simply wouldn't have been the same watching it without you. Why, you're the only one that indulges my opinions.

[He says like he doesn't develop the most controversial takes he can just to piss people off. Though his predictions tended to be scarily spot on sometimes, which just made his takes even more infuriating to most.

Frieda knew his game though, and could only get riled so often before catching on. That's honestly what he enjoyed more than the show itself.

So after washing their dishes together, he sets up the couch for them to watch. As always he took his seat beside her, but this time let his arm drape around the back of the couch, not quite on her shoulders buuut... perhaps subtly inviting her to lean in if she wished. He'd never say out loud.]

Ready?

Breathing is a generally automatic function.

[ So, yes, he’s breathing at least. ]

This has happened to you before then?

[ He cackles with delight and swings his wand, sending several darkness bunnies flying through the air as they're hit with magic. ]

We absolutely can~ Quick question though-- are these things from your world?

Nope! They live here.

[Rinku shuts her eyes and slices through one as it lunges to try and bite her.]

They're kinda scary, though! With the maple animals, they're the opposite of normal animals, so stuff like rabbits try to eat you.

Hm...

[ He looks intrigued for a moment, before he decides to hop out of his vehicle, landing beside her hard enough that the ground shakes just a bit under his weight.]

You know, it's a shame we can't take these guys back with us...

Hearing the crack in Levi's voice fractures something in his chest. That night...their last night inevitably comes tumbling back. His stubbornness, his selfishness, trying to hold Levi at bay because there was always a small chance that Erwin would give in to that request. Levi had been willing to take the blame for whatever would have happened in Erwin's absence, to take the heat of responsibility away from him, if it meant keeping him alive.

He'd refused. His dream wouldn't allow him to be absent from the moment the truth of their world was revealed, no matter the cost. In the end, his stubbornness hadn't granted him that wish, but Erwin has to hope that his presence had helped at least some of them survive. Had helped Levi survive. Surely, that had been worth it. That alone, he won't regret.

But here they are again, somehow. Levi giving him an excuse, to back out, offering to take on any criticism, to really break all of his limbs if it'll keep him safe.

What Erwin sees in his eyes, changed after four hard years, breaks open his chest. All of the pain he caused, his foolishness, all of the things he couldn't do because he wasn't there...and here he is, having learned nothing, apparently, wounding Levi like this all over again when he has no real reason to this time.

I've had enough of watching you die.

His grip tightens on Levi's, eyes blurring. Carefully he lifts their hands away from the flower, and heedless of the dirt that remains on them, pulls Levi close, into the circle of his arms. Both of them. His embrace is fierce, a little stooped so that he can hide his face in dark hair. Erwin holds him so, so tightly.

"I won't do that to you again," he whispers softly. "Forgive me, Levi."

[Rinku opens her eyes again and tilts her head, though her fire sword is still out in case the rabbits go for them again.]

There's maple animals in the real-life segments too, so I guess you could try to catch one? They live out in Autumn, just like here. I feel like these ones are stronger, though. Must be because of the Darkness.

[ WAHAHAHA -

Quickly sets him down before she can drop him, though; physical activity is not her strong suit. ]

Deserved! Deserved bullying!

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Event #7: Knocking on the 4th Wall (Inside the Metaverse)

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